Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Agusta AW139 Helicopter VH-ESH Flys South via Mackay and Gladstone Airports

On Friday 10 May, Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-ESH was noted ferrying South from Cairns to Archerfield and calling into Townsville, Mackay and Gladstone Airports.

VH-ESH at Mackay Hospital recently  (File photo)

VH-ESH is believed to have flown to Archerfield for planned maintenance after operating in Far North Queensland for a period of time out of both Townsville and Cairns Airports as "Rescue 521" and "Rescue 510" respectively. 

This is part of the 'rotational system' the service utilises to ensure the even distribution of flying hours on each of the QGAir Rescue helicopters.  This system avoids the need to have multiple helicopters offline for simultaneous scheduled maintenance.

Of interest, fellow QGAir AW139 choppers VH-EZJ, and the recently delivered VH-EGK, continue to operate in Far North Queensland.

Reports suggest that the other recently delivered Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopters (Agusta) AW139 VH-EGF will ferry North in the coming days having this week commenced operations with QGAir Rescue out of Archerfield as "Rescue 500". 

As posted below, VH-EGF made its first visit to CQ on Wednesday 8 May when it completed a medical evacuation flight to Bundaberg.

Photo taken by 'TM'  ©